Rick Astley Net Worth

What Is Rick Astley's Net Worth?

Rick Astley, an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality, has a net worth of $16 million. Astley rose to global fame with his 1987 hit song "Never Gonna Give You Up," which topped the charts in 25 countries. This iconic song showcased his distinctive baritone voice and quickly established him as a pop sensation.

Astley's debut album, "Whenever You Need Somebody" (1987), achieved multi-platinum status and included other hits like "Together Forever." Throughout his career, Astley has sold over 40 million records worldwide and received numerous accolades, including the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single for "Never Gonna Give You Up." He has continued to release new music over the years, demonstrating his lasting appeal and talent.

In the early 2000s, "Never Gonna Give You Up" resurfaced as a viral meme known as "Rickrolling." Internet users tricked others into clicking unrelated links that redirected to the music video, giving the song a second wave of popularity and introducing it to a new generation. Astley's warm embrace of this meme further entrenched him in internet culture.

Rickrolling Royalties

The "Never Gonna Give You Up" music video has amassed over 1 billion views on YouTube. Using the YouTube Money Calculator, it's estimated that Astley earned around $2 million after Google's 45% cut. However, this is just an estimate, and the actual earnings could vary.

In 2010, Astley mentioned that he had only made $12 from the Rickrolling phenomenon due to not owning the song's copyright, receiving only a performer's share of the royalties. Nevertheless, as the meme's popularity has grown, Astley might have seen increased earnings from it in recent years. Overall, while exact figures are uncertain, the meme has undoubtedly revitalized Astley's career and fame.

Rick Astley Became A Millionaire At 22

Speaking to "The Telegraph" in 2016, Astley shared his experiences of becoming a millionaire thanks to "Never Gonna Give You Up":

"...what happened to me in the Eighties was totally far from what most people would consider reality. My 1987 single 'Never Gonna Give You Up' made me a millionaire by the age of 22. Unless you've won the football pools or the lottery, that's pretty ridiculous. It shouldn't happen to anyone...

I was a very naive 21-year-old and I had become properly famous. That's not for the faint-hearted. I loved parts of it but a light quickly went on in my head. Today, I'd tell kids two things about making it big in the music industry: One, get a manager who really likes you, not just how good you are. Mine was best man at my wedding. Two, get a good and expensive lawyer because everyone else involved in your career is simply doing it to get you to make as much money as possible."

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Early Life

Rick Astley was born Richard Paul Astley on February 6, 1966, in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, England. The youngest of four children, he was raised by his father after his parents' divorce when he was five. Despite living separately, he stayed in close contact with his mother, who lived nearby. However, upon discovering that his father had forced his mother out, Astley distanced himself from his father. Astley began singing at the age of 10, joining the local church choir.

During high school, he played drums in several local bands, meeting guitarist David Morris in one of them. After leaving school at 16, Astley worked as a driver for his father's market gardening business by day and played drums in bands like Give Way and FBI by night, gaining recognition and winning local talent competitions.

Career

In 1985, Astley was the drummer for FBI, a band featuring David Morris on guitar. Following the departure of FBI's lead singer and Morris's shift to hairdressing, Astley stepped up as lead vocalist. His talents caught the attention of record producer Pete Waterman, who invited him to London to work at his studio, leading to a contract with RCA Records.

Astley's first single, a collaboration with Lisa Carter titled "When You Gunna," failed to chart. However, his solo debut, "Never Gonna Give You Up," recorded on New Year's Day 1987 and released eight months later, became an instant hit. The song topped the British charts for five weeks and was the year's highest-selling single. It also achieved worldwide success, reaching number one in 24 other countries, including the U.S., and winning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. Astley followed this with 13 more worldwide top-30 hits.

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Astley's next single, "Whenever You Need Somebody," released in October 1987, became a successful hit in Europe, reaching number one in seven countries and number three in the UK. The album of the same name, released in November 1987, featured four tracks written by Astley and achieved four-time platinum status in the UK and Canada, as well as double platinum in the U.S. With over 15.2 million copies sold worldwide, Astley was the top-selling British act of the year.

In December 1987, Astley released a cover of Nat King Cole's classic "When I Fall in Love." The song reached number two in the UK, while its B-side, "My Arms Keep Missing You," made waves in mainland Europe. Astley's fourth single, "Together Forever," also topped the U.S. charts, making him the first artist of the 1980s to achieve this feat with his first two singles. His 1991 album "Free" featured guest appearances by Elton John and Mark King.

Despite his success, Astley chose to retire at 27 in 1993 to focus on family life. He made a comeback in the early 2000s with the albums "Keep It Turned On" (2001) and "Portrait" (2005). However, it was in 2007 that Astley experienced a resurgence in popularity due to the Rickrolling meme, ultimately winning the "Best Act Ever" award at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008 thanks to internet users.